Combined step-ladder and table.



"NQ 347,919. P'ATENTED MAR. 19,- 1907.

. v J.D. nouns COMBINED STEP LADIQER AND TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1;]05. 2 snnnzr-s-snnn'r 1.

INVENTOR H darrizs D. DouJs;

ATTORNEYS.

No. 847,919. 'PATENTED MAR.' =1{9, 1907.

.T.D. nouns.

COMBINED STEP-LADDER AND TABLE.

.APPLIQAT1ONIILEDNQV.25,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR L/qmes D. Dpuos.

ATTORNEYS.

T (ZZZ whom it may concern:

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

JAMES D. nouns, or SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA. V COMBINED STEP-LADDER AND TABLE.

Patented March 19, 1907.

Application filed November 25, 1905. Serial No. 289,141.

Be it known that I, JAMES D. DoUDs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Swissvale, 7501 Calumet street, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Step-Ladder and Table, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in combination house hold articles; and the invention relates more particularly to a combined step-ladder, ironing-board, and table or stand. I

The primary object of this invention is to combine a step-ladder, ironingboard, and table into a simple and inexpensive article that can be easily and quickly manipulated to provide either one of the above-mentioned articles.

With the above and other objects in View, which Will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and, referring to the drawing accompanying this application, like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved article constructed as a step-ladder. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an auxiliary board forming part of the table-top. Fig. 4 is aplan of the table, illustrating an ironing-board attachment in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the table, partly in section. Fig. 6 is a plan of the table with the top thereof removed. Fig. 7 is a bottom plan of an auxiliary ironing-board. Fig. 8 is a side ele vation of the same. Fig. 9 is an end view of one of the auxiliary boards of the table. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a cleat employed in connection with the same. Fig. 11 is a plan of one of the steps of the ladder. Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a yoke used in connection with the ladder. Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the uppermost step of one section of the ladder, illustrating a platform detachably connected thereto. Fig. 14 is a fragmentary edge view of one of the boards of the table.

The article which I have devised is easily and quickly manipulated to provide'a stepladder, ironing-b0ard, stand, or table, and in describing the invention in detail the various articles which are formed will be considered separately.

In constructing the ladder I employ four pieces of material 1 and 2, 3 and 4, said pieces forming the uprights of the'ladder. The pieces 1 and 2 are connected together by transverse steps 5', while the pieces 3 and 4 are connected to ether by transverse steps 6. The ladder thus formed consists of two parts 7 and 8, and to connect these parts together I employ two plates 9 and 10. The plate 9'is secured to the lower ends of the parts 7, as at 11, and the plate 10 is secured to the upper end of the part 8, as at 12. The plates 9 and 10 are hinged together, as at 14 14, and their hinged edges are cut away, as at 15 15.

The topmost step 5 of the part 7 is provided centrally of its length with a hinge member 16, and member by a pin 17 is a hinge member 18, carried by a board 19. The board 19 serves to brace the parts 7 and 8 when being used as a ladder, and in order to prevent the parts 7 and 8 from breaking apart when so used I employ yokes 20, which are placed over the front edges of the plates 9 and 10 to hold them together. The yokes 20 are connected to the part 8 by chains 21. 1

The board 19 near its upper end is provided with a hinged bar 22, said bar being adapted to engage in a socket 23, carried by the lowermost step 6 of the part 8. 22 is adapted to prevent the ladder and the board 19 from collapsing when being used. To prevent the board 19 from moving outwardly when in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, a chain or other sultable brace member 23, which is fixed to the part 8 of the ladder, as at 24, is connected to the board 19, as at 25.

The topmost step 5 of the part 7 is provided with forwardly-extending lugs 26, having openings '27 formed therein. Adapted to engage in said lugs are depending angular lugs 28, carried by a plate 29, secured to the bottom of a platform 30. The angular lugs are placed in the openings 27 of the lugs 26, and then the platform is swung over the step to be supported by said step and the upper end of the board 19. This platform 30 afforils a support for a bucket or like receptac e.

To form a table, the chain 23 is detached pivotally secured to said,

The bar from the board 19, the board 19 and the platform 30 removed from the ladder, at which time the parts 7 and 8 can be folded by removing the yokes 20. The parts 7 and 8 are now folded to form legs 31 for a table, as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive. The chain 23 is connected to a hook 32, carried by one of the steps 5 of the part 7, said chain preventing the legs 31 or the parts 7 and 8 from spreading. The plates 9 and 10 are cut away, as at 33', to reduce the weight of said plates, and the remainder of the material forming said plates is provided with open.- ings 34 and openings 35. A board 36 is mounted upon the legs 31 of the table, said board being held in engagement with the legs by depending angular lugs 37, carried by the under face of said board. The lugs are adapted to engage in the openings 34 of the plates 9 and 10 and firmly retain said board in engagement with the legs 31 of the table. The board 36 forms a portion of the top of the table, and in connection with said board Iemploy auxiliary boards 37, 38, and 39. The auxiliary board 39, which is clearly shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, at one edge is provided with a plate 40, carrying depending angular lugs 41, the plate 40 and said lugs being clearly shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings. One edge of the board 39 is provided with outwardly-extending plates 42. The plate 39 is first placed in engagement with the table so far formed by engaging the lugs 41 in the openings 35 at one side of the plate 10. The auxiliary board 37 is constructed similar to the board 39, and it is placed in engagement with the plate 10 by placing the lugs of the plate on the board 37 in engagement with the openings 35 upon the opposite edge of the plate 10. The positioning of the boards 37 and 39 provides supports forthe center auxiliary board 38, the supports being the plates 42, which extend inwardly toward the center of the table. The central auxiliary board 38, which is pro vided with depending lugs similar to those heretofore described, is now placed in position, the lugs of said plate engaging the centrally-located openings 35 of the plate 10, and the outer edges of the board 38 are adapted to rest upon the plates 42 of the boards 37 and 39. When the boards have been properly positioned, a flat table-top is formed, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.

To provide an ironingboard, the board 19, which has been used in connection with the step-ladder, is shaped as shown, and when it is desired to use it as an ironing-board its lowermost end, which 18 provided with lugs 43, is placed in engagement with the plate 1.0 by removing the central auxiliary board 38. The lugs 43 of the board 19 are adapted to engage in the central openings 35 of the plate 10, and the bar 22 of the board is adapted to engage in a pocket 44, carried. by one of the steps ot the part 7, and in. this manner support the outer end ol the ironingboard. The board 19, wnich is of considerable length, is used for ironing large pieces of fabric or cloth; but. should it be desired to iron a small piece of cloth or a bosom of a shirt an auxiliary ironing-board 45 is employed, said board being provided with depending lugs 46, which are adapted to engage in the openings 35 at either side of theplate 1.0 and 'lirmly retain the auxiliary board 45 in engagement with the table. The au.\'il iary board 45 may be used simultaneously with the board 19.

The ditl'erent parts of the articles ust described can be easily and quickly disassembled or assembled to form any one oi" the above-mentioiled articles, and I do not :are to contine myself to the size, prormrtion, and minor details of construction, as such changes may be made as are permissible by the appended claims.

hat l claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the class described comprising a step-ladder in two sections hingedl y united, a board adapted to be detachably coupled. at one end to said ladder and serving as a leg thereto when in one position and. with a catch device at the other end adapted to engage the ladder when in another position, a brace swinging from said board and adapted to engage said ladder at its free end, and a flexible tie member adapted to be detachably connected between said ladder and board. when the device is in. one position and to couple said ladder-sections when the device is in another position.

2. A device of the class described com- )rising a step-ladder in two sections having lateral arms at their adjacent ends with the free ends of said arms hingedly united, a board adapted to be detachably coupled at one end to said ladder and serving as a leg theretowhen in one position. and with a catch device at the other end adapted to be detaehably engaged with one of said lateral arms when in another position, a brace swinging from said board and. adapted to detachably engage said. ladder at its free end, and a flexible tie member adapted to be detachably connected between said ladder and said board when in one position and between said ladder-sections when, in another posi tion.

3. A device of the class described comprising a step-lad der in two sections hingedly united, one o'l said sections having a hinge member near its free end and the other sec tion having a brace bearing near its free end, a board. having a hinge member at one end adapted to be detachably connected to the hinge member of the ladder-section, a brace swinging from said board and adapted to detachablyl'en age said li brace-bearing at its free endfan a flexible tie member adapted to be detachably connected between said ladder-sections and board when in one osition and to detachably couple said la dersections when in another position.

4. A ste -ladder formed in two sections with latera members at the adjacent ends and hingedly unit-ed at the free ends of said lateral members, a board constituting a supporting-leg and adapted. to be connected at one end to said ladder, and a tie member adapted to connect between said leg device and ladder when said ladder is in one position and to be connected between said ladder-sections when said ladder is in another position, said board having means for detachably coupling to one of said lateral members when the ladder is in folded position.

5. A step-ladder formed in two sections with lateral members at the adjacent ends of the sections and hingedly united by the free ends of the lateral members, one of said lateral members having transverse sockets, a board constituting a supporting-leg and adapted to be detachably connected at one end to said ladder, and with a catch device at the other end, and a tie member adapted to connect said leg device and ladder when said ladder is in one osition and to be connected between sai ladder-sections when the ladder is in another position, and said board adapted to be supported from said ladder when the ladder is in folded position by inserting the catch device thereon in the sockets of said lateral member.

6. A step-ladder formed in two sections with lateral members at the adjacent ends of the sections and hingedly united at the free ends of the lateral members, a board constituting a supporting-leg and adapted to be detachably connected to one end of said ladder, and means whereby said board is detachably supported from one of said lateral members when the ladder is in folded position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES D. DOUDS. Witnesses:

O. KLOSTERMANN, H. C. EVERT. 

